Understanding the Second Coming: Mystery of the Sealed Book, Part 1

 

Understanding the Second Coming: Mystery of the Sealed Book, Part 1

One of the most intriguing prophecies in the book of Revelation

is John’s vision of the book with seven seals. God is

revealed seated upon His mighty throne holding a mysterious

book in His right hand. The book is filled with writing. Its contents are

obviously of great importance. But there is not a person to be found in

all the vast universe who is worthy to open and read the book, that is,

except the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this study we will learn the contents of the book and why

Jesus alone is qualified to understand and deal with the information

in the book.

The Backdrop

The prophecy of the book with seven seals is presented in a setting

of expectancy. All the created intelligentsia of the unfallen universe

long for the day when God will possess His kingdom without a

rival. His right to reign will soon be unchallenged. The archenemy of

the Almighty Creator of the universe, Satan himself, will ultimately

be conquered. The perfect harmony of love and righteousness will be

established, nevermore to be disrupted.

This backdrop is brought to view in Revelation chapter four. The

four living creatures that dwell in the throne room of the universe proclaim

day and night: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was

and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8, NKJV). The twenty-four elders

respond to the enlightened praise by saying, “You are worthy, O Lord,

to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by

Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11, NKJV).

The phrase “who was and is and is to come” occurs three other times

in Revelation (see Revelation 1:4, 8; 11:17). It is not a statement intended

to speak of God’s eternal existence, for it announces that He “shall

come.” If the four creatures had meant to make a statement of God’s

eternal existence, they would have said, “who was and is and shall be,”

not “shall come.” Rather than a statement of God’s eternal existence, the

four creatures are announcing God’s eternal, sovereign reign over the

universe. They are not saying, “God has existed in the past, does exist

now, and will exist in the future,” although that would be a true declaration

also. What they are saying is that God has reigned supreme in all

ages past, He does presently reign as the only One worthy to possess

absolute dominion, and He will ultimately establish the reign of His

kingdom as the battle for dominion reaches its climactic conclusion. The

prophet Daniel comprehended this reality as well: “His dominion is an

everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the

one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14, NKJV).

The warfare between Christ and Satan is the backdrop against which

the drama of Revelation is acted out. In the center of the book we see that

long ago war broke out in heaven: “Michael and His angels fought with

the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail,

nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great

dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who

deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were

cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9, NKJV).

The primary application of these verses is to the cross of Christ. It

was then that Satan was completely uprooted from the sympathies of

heavenly beings. However, it is also applicable to the time when Satan

was first cast out of heaven to earth back at the beginning of his rebellion.

The prophet Isaiah reveals the heart of Satan’s apostasy: “How are

thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut

down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said

in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the

stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the

sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be

like the most High” (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Lucifer, the most honored of all God’s angels, aspired to the throne

of God. He sought to exalt himself above the Almighty One and receive

the worship that rightfully belongs to the Lord by virtue of His authority

as the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Through lies and false accusations

against the character of God, he deceived a large number of angels. After

he and his supporters were cast out of heaven, they took up their campaign

on earth. Here they deceived our first parents, Adam and Eve, by

telling them they could be equal with God if they would but break free

from His restraint and disobey His will (see Genesis 3:1-5).

When Adam and Eve sinned, Satan proclaimed himself the prince

of this world. It is recorded three times in the Gospel of John that Jesus

referred to Satan as “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

But while Christ recognized the devil’s claim to earthly dominion, He

most certainly did not let it go unchallenged. Looking ahead to the

triumph of the cross, Jesus announced that “the ruler of this world will

be overthrown” (John 12:31, NEB). Once the victory of the cross was

gained and Jesus was raised from the dead, He proclaimed, “All authority

has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18, NKJV).

Christ is the rightful ruler of this world, and by His life of righteousness

and His sacrifice of love, He demonstrated the superiority of the principles

of God’s kingdom.

From the time that our first parents fell under Satan’s dominion, the

instigator of evil has blamed God for all the chaos and pain that has filled

the world as a result of sin. From time to time through the centuries leading

up to the cross of Christ, Satan presented himself in heaven as the

self-proclaimed lord of earth. He urged before the unfallen intelligentsia

of the heavenly universe that God’s ways are unworthy of their allegiance,

that the Lord rules on the basis of fear and bribery. His kingdom

is selfish and too restraining, Satan charged. The Old Testament book

of Job offers us these insights concerning the subtle warfare Satan has

conducted against the God of heaven (see Job 1-2).

When Christ came to this world and was crucified, Satan fully manifested

his true character. He revealed hatred, deceit and malicious intent

against the Creator. His disguise was torn away. He was seen by all of

heaven to be a murderer and a liar from the beginning. It was then, at

Calvary, that every question was answered for the angels. Christ’s love

stood in broad and distinct contrast to Satan’s hate. The cross proved that

God is love, and that He is worthy to receive the power and glory of the

eternal kingdom. He has always reigned in the past. He continues to reign

even now. And, though Satan has challenged His worthiness to reign into

eternity, He will ultimately come into full possession of the kingdom.

Every mouth will confess the rightful reign of God through Christ, and

every knee will bow to Him.

With this background context we will now come into the throne room

of the universe to ponder the vision of the sealed book.

 

The Sealed Book

“And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book

written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a

strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the

book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth,

neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to

read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto

me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,

hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And

I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in

the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven

horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into

all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of

Him that sat upon the throne” (Revelation 5:1-7).

What are the contents of this sealed book?

We have a good clue in that no one in all of heaven and earth was

found worthy to read it, except the Lion-Lamb, Jesus Christ. He alone

has prevailed to open the book. How and when did He prevail to take

authority over the book? In verse nine we are told that it is by virtue of

the fact that He shed His blood at the cross: “Thou art worthy to take

the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast

redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and

people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

Because Jesus died for fallen man, He is the only one who can open

and read the sealed book. Since it was for fallen sinners that He died, and

since it is because He died for us that He can open and read the book,

it follows that the contents of the book must have something to do with

  1. And it does, as we will see. To learn just what the sealed book is, we

need to compare some Scriptures that will be helpful.

The Bible teaches that God records the tears, the wanderings, the

spiritual meditations—in short, the entire life history—of His children in

His book: “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle;

are they not in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8, NKJV).

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord

listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him

for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name” (Malachi 3:16,

NKJV).

The Bible also teaches that all of mankind will be judged by the

works of their lives as recorded in God’s book: “A fiery stream issued

and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto

Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment

was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10).

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and

books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of

Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things

which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12-15, NKJV).

Notice in the following Scriptures that God has a book of life in

which the names and characters of each of His people are recorded: “Yet

now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out

of Thy book which Thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses,

Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book”

(Exodus 32:32-33).

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;

but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and

I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his

name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5).

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names

are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation

of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of

the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth

shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the

foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not,

and yet is” (Revelation 17:8).

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither

whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which

are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this

prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out

of the holy city, and from the things, which are written in this book”

(Revelation 22:19).

God has also recorded the woes and destruction that will come upon

those who persist to spread wickedness and pain:

“Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and

behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before me; and

there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were

lamentations and mourning and woe” (Ezekiel 2:9-10, NKJV).

Taking all these verses of Scripture into consideration, we can see

that God keeps an accurate record of this world’s history, including each

person’s name and the works and character that have made up each life.

Eventually all will be judged by those things written in God’s books.

Those who continue in rebellion will be judged by the deeds of their

lives. Those who have confessed Christ will be judged by those things

recorded in the book of life. Each one who continues in Christ will have

his name retained forever in God’s book. Those who, having once trusted

in Christ for salvation, have turned from Him to return to their life of sin

will have their names blotted out of the book of life.

The reason Jesus is the only One worthy to open the book is

because He is the only One who can, with perfect justice and mercy,

judge the world and decide each person’s eternal destiny. By virtue of

the fact that He became our Brother, was tempted as we are, and shed

His innocent blood for our sins, He has prevailed to investigate each

person’s life and pass judgment. It is written of Him: “For the Father

judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. . . .

And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is

the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which

all that are in the graves shall hear His voice. . . I can of Mine own

self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I

seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me”

(John 5:22, 27-28, 30).

God the Father has appointed Jesus Christ as the ultimate Judge

of every person. It is He who will pronounce the final verdict on each

individual soul. You need not fear His judgment if you will obtain the

services of the right lawyer. But don’t bother looking in The Yellow

Pages for your attorney. Actually there is only one lawyer good enough

to secure a verdict of acquittal for you—the Judge Himself. It seems a

bit strange, pleasantly so, but it is true: Jesus, your Judge, is also your

Advocate, if you will allow Him to stand in your defense. “We have an

advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). He’s

not only willing to defend you, He’s eager. It is His greatest pleasure to

plead His perfect life and shed blood for the pardon of sinners. There’s

only one qualification: don’t try to justify yourself by either denying

your true guilt or by endeavoring to earn your salvation by good deeds.

Simply confess that you are a sinner and cast yourself on the mercy of

the court. And once forgiven, determine that, in the light of His love,

you will live to honor Him in all things.

Understanding the Second Coming: Mystery of the Sealed Book, Part 1

There is another reason to believe that the sealed book in the hand

of God is the history of the world and of every individual. When Christ

begins to break the seals, events that transpire on earth are revealed.

The rider on the red horse, under the second seal, takes “peace from the

earth” (Revelation 6:4). Under the fourth seal the pale horse has “power

over a fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and

with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8). Under

the fifth seal we are shown the martyrs of earth (see Revelation 6:9).

Under the sixth seal we are shown an earthquake and strange happenings

with the sun, the moon, and the stars (see Revelation 6:12-13).

Also under the sixth seal we see the terror of the unrighteous of earth at

the second coming of Christ (see Revelation 6:15-17).

As each seal opens we are shown events that happen on earth. This

reveals that the contents of the book is the history of the world—every

person’s name and life history; every war, every evil plotting, every

secret vice; every act of love, every deed of compassion, every decision

for good; each person’s choice to follow Christ or to rebel against

Him—all is recorded with unerring accuracy and perfect detail.

Jesus shed His blood to save every man, woman and child. He

earned the authority and obtained the wisdom to judge each person by

dying on the cross. His hatred for sin and His love for the sinner are

poised with perfect balance on His scepter. He alone can open the book

and deal justly with its long and complicated chronicles. With perfect

compassion, born of His own experience as a man of sorrow and

temptation, He will weigh all the varied circumstances of each life. The

inherent strengths and weaknesses; the cultural setting and time; the

privileges and opportunities; the obstacles and disadvantages; the light

of truth within reach—all will be taken into account as Jesus pronounces

the destiny of every person. Calvary persuades us that we can trust

His verdicts with absolute confidence.

When every chapter of the book is finally acted out and each destiny

is settled, “every creature which is in heaven and on earth” will

proclaim, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits

on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13,

NKJV). It is your privilege to join the glad chorus on that day. The One

who was, and who is, will come to possess the everlasting kingdom.

And we will never doubt His love again.

Understanding the Second Coming: Mystery of the Sealed Book, Part 1

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